Comfort Zones

 

Say the word 'decoupage' and I run a mile. But eventually I was going to find myself sticking pieces of paper napkin to a bottle or box. Yesterday was it. This is the project for tomorrow's craft group meeting. It's not my project, but I got to make the sample. The idea will be to put a tea candle inside the bottle.

I'd much rather be filling bottles with piccalilli! Jack has cauliflowers in the garden, so it's piccalilli time again.

For once, I measured the spices and used exactly what the River Cottage recipe calls for. I think I got a better colour than usual. I'm too heavy handed with the darker spices, when I use my guesstimation method. 

More Bags

 

I'm sewing jewelry bags again. I usually make 30 during the last week of the month, but last week Anne, the jeweler, messaged to say she'd run short of bags. So I whizzed up another batch, in between other tasks, and delivered them on Friday. She still needs the regular order though, so I'm working on that. 

Applique

 

A friend asked me what I was doing. "Sewing an applique picture of the Taj Mahal". I bet she didn't expect that answer! This is another project for the teacher I did the weather chart and three billy goats gruff for. She's making a display to show iconic images of India. I can't draw for toffee, but I found a tutorial via Pinterest that shows how to draw the Taj Mahal using a grid, so simple that even I could do it. I used a water soluble pen to draw the windows and doors so that I could stitch them. I did a sample and it worked perfectly. On the final picture it turned out to be more difficult to get rid of the blue ink. I eventually had to really wet the picture and be thankful the day was sunny and it dried quickly.

Grafted

 I've been knitting diligently and have finished the twice-around cowl. One of the reasons I chose this stitch pattern is that it has a row of all-knit stitches, which made it easy to graft:

I've left the cast on thread to mark where the graft is. Once I hide that, the cowl should, I hope, have no beginning or end. 

Tomorrow's Project

 

At the craft group I run on Fridays in a local retirement home, we generally aim to make things that are practical and useful. Last week we made beaded spectacle cords. But I think that sometimes it's fine to be frivolous. Tomorrow's flower fairies are purely decorative and completely useless. 

Knit And Purl

 

I'm enjoying knitting this pattern. I like the effect and it's easy but requires a bit of attention - the knits and purls need to be correct to create the pattern. 

Working On Second Order

 

I've spun and dyed wool for a long cowl. I was generous because I have no idea how much yarn will be needed. It's much easier to use up leftovers than match if I'm short! I ummed and arred about what stitch to use. Eventually I decided on a 'basketweave' created with knits and purls. I started knitting, with a provisional cast on, but my stitch count is off so I'll have to start again. 

One Order Done

 

This was a quick project because I used yarn that I had on hand. And, of course, fingerless mitts don't take long to knit, especially plain ones like these. The customer is coming today to collect them. 

Evolving

 

I did say my waffle square was experimental.  My original plan was to use the three balls of blue/grey cotton, but that would make a very oddly sized square. So I've decided to turn it into a stash buster project and use up oddments until it's big enough for a lap blanket. I've used two balls of the blue and kept the other one to use near the edge, to tie it all together. 

I had a good market morning on Saturday. I sold the balls of wool shown in the previous post, as well as another. I sold all the fingerless gloves and have orders for two more pairs. A pair of socks went, and two puppets. There was interest in cowls, but the preference was for longer ones. I have an order for a longer, lacy cowl. The produce side of the table did well too - I sold fresh bell peppers and bottled ones, as well as marmalade and honey. Now I must get on with orders and restocking.